Cuttack, Sept. 21: The Odisha State Truck Owners' Federation (OSTOF) has demanded the withdrawal of the state government's decision to impose green tax on vehicles older than 15 years.
"The state government should immediately revoke this regressive decision," federation general secretary Rabi Narayan Satapathy said.
The state transport secretary had announced that a green tax would be imposed on vehicles older than 15 years to discourage such vehicles plying on the road as they cause damage to life and property.
The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex transporters' body, has also expressed support to the federation's demand, said Satapathy. He announced that truckers from the state would take part in an indefinite nationwide strike called by the AIMTC from October 1, alleging that the Centre has failed to address their issues, including removal of toll.
"About two lakh trucks and nearly 1,300 transport companies across the state will stay off the road as our transporters will join the AIMTC's call for indefinite strike from October 1 to press for the removal of toll gates from the country," Satapathy said.
The AIMTC president Bhim Wadhwa held a meeting with the OSTOF here on Saturday to discuss details of the proposed strike by the state transporters, he said.
With one tollgate for every 60kms, there are around 373 toll gates (constructed at a cost of Rs 173 crores) for 13,500 km roads across the country.
The transport operators of India cannot sustain operations amid burgeoning corruption, harassment and time delays at toll barriers, AIMTC has alleged, while demanding a "toll barrier free" India and compensating revenue loss by way of indirect taxation.
"Our managing committee decided to go on indefinite strike as the transport ministry has failed to resolve our issues such as removal of toll as well as long standing demand of tax deduction at source," Wadhwa said at a press conference after the meeting.
The AIMTC claims to represent 93 lakh truckers and a nationwide strike by truckers would result in losses to the tune of Rs 1,500-1,700 crore every day.
